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THE STAGE FIFTY YEARS AGO
bill of fare, chiefly through its use of the
contrivances of modern science. To the
vocal and instrumental solo, the dance,
the song and dance, the stump speech or
monologue, the one-act drama, sentimental
or comic, the dialogue, generally in dia-
lect, of the two funny men, feats of acro-
bats and jugglers, and the deeds of per-
forming dogs — all of which were of the
old regime — are now added the wonders
of the kinetoscope and the biograph. And
this congeries furnishes the amusement
which at present about equally divides
with the regular theatre the public patron-
age, counting its daily spectators in Bos-
ton by double thousands. It is good to be
able to believe that the public's morals are
not jeoparded by the prevailing taste, and
good to be assured that the overtaxed
public's mind and overwrought public's
nerves are rested and soothed by " the
vaudeville." Also, it is to be hoped that
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